Tree Risk Assessment of a Declining Silver Maple
I am looking to get the opinion of a few other certified arborists for a tree risk assessment I conducted this large Silver Maple that is undergoing some scrutiny, specifically regarding abatement options.
During a prior pruning, the tree had a dozen or more large diameter (12-24”) heading cuts to major scaffolding branches. This may have been in response to a failure, but more than likely just hack job pruning to reduce threatening branches growing over the house. As a result there are large diameter wounds all over that the tree will not be able to compartmentalize and will inevitably lead to decay.
I don’t see pruning as an effective long term option for this tree. Continuing to pollard these branches will leave them prone to decay and inevitable failure. Cabling the affected branches would be extremely impractical and only somewhat effective. The tree is showing many symptoms of stress, including dieback and an abundance of epicormic shoot growth. Reducing the branches to the truck would rapidly accelerate the tree’s decline.
Also to be considered, this tree is not native to this area (PNW, USA) and from my experience, these trees are both prone to fracture and decay.
My recommendation is removal and replanting with two native trees in offset locations. Is there an abatement/pruning option I am missing for this situation?